Grant is expected on the 4th line for Sprong vs. Calgary (/ Vancouver), which makes a lot sense, as he has experience with Pacific division.

Grant is expected on the 4th line for Sprong vs. Vancouver, which makes a lot sense, as he has experience with Pacific division.
- VeryModernMan

No forward is going to move the needle. We have an overload of top 6 forwards on this team. Nyquist will probably get 14-15 minutes a night on the third line here and is yet another natural RW to add to the mix. He'll probably have great PTS per 60 but given the limited ice time he'll get his tangible production can be approximated by guys we already have.

Our issue is our defense. We have one great pairing and two absolutely poopty ones. We can add Kucherov to this team and the only time we play competent hockey is still gonna be when the Letang pairing is on the ice. A needle mover would be a defenseman, not a top 6 forward, and Rutherford believes that the defensive signings we made this offseason were the pieces we needed to shore the blue line up. Its too early to panic or give up on the season, but if we really want to get over the top, we need our blue line to develop competency on the bottom two pairings. A forward would be cool, but wouldn't add a ton of relative value right now.
- Victoro311

My Athletic sub ran out, what did Yohe have to say about Sprong today? I saw a column where he spoke to GMJR about him on the old twitterbox.

No forward is going to move the needle. We have an overload of top 6 forwards on this team. Nyquist will probably get 14-15 minutes a night on the third line here and is yet another natural RW to add to the mix. He'll probably have great PTS per 60 but given the limited ice time he'll get his tangible production can be approximated by guys we already have.

Our issue is our defense. We have one great pairing and two absolutely poopty ones. We can add Kucherov to this team and the only time we play competent hockey is still gonna be when the Letang pairing is on the ice. A needle mover would be a defenseman, not a top 6 forward, and Rutherford believes that the defensive signings we made this offseason were the pieces we needed to shore the blue line up. Its too early to panic or give up on the season, but if we really want to get over the top, we need our blue line to develop competency on the bottom two pairings. A forward would be cool, but wouldn't add a ton of relative value right now.
- Victoro311

I agree that our issue is our defense, but I also don't believe there is much of a way to improve the defense. Who are we going to trade? We just signed JO and JJ to deals, don't see us moving them. I'm not a fan of moving Maatta and would it even be an upgrade? Schultz is hurt. We gonna move a forward for a Dman? While I do think D is the problem, I think D would be much more difficult to upgrade.

I agree that our issue is our defense, but I also don't believe there is much of a way to improve the defense. Who are we going to trade? We just signed JO and JJ to deals, don't see us moving them. I'm not a fan of moving Maatta and would it even be an upgrade? Schultz is hurt. We gonna move a forward for a Dman? While I do think D is the problem, I think D would be much more difficult to upgrade.
- j.boyd919

I agree with that. I don't think we'll see a significant move on D, but I also don't see a point in expending substantial assets to upgrade marginally when we have a fatal flaw somewhere else. Not opposed to spending substantial assets, but lets do so when there is a substantial relative gain to be had. I don't think Nyquist gives us a substantial relative gain that will compensate for our team's weakness and give us that much better of a chance at the Cup.

My Athletic sub ran out, what did Yohe have to say about Sprong today? I saw a column where he spoke to GMJR about him on the old twitterbox.
- j.boyd919

It was an interview with the Old Man. Pretty much Rutherford still loves Sprong but understands that he's not going to produce or develop that much on the fourth line, but there's nothing much that can be done about that since he's not lighting the world on fire and Kessel, Rust, and Hornqvist are all better than him.

Honestly it was an infuriating interview to read seeing how it was his own damn fault that Sprong can't be in the AHL right now. "Oh yeah, I know he'll be great one day, but he's not in the best position to develop right now, but you know, can't do anything about that." Yes you (frank)ing could have. You could have sent him back down to the C when it was obvious that Johnston was only gonna play him on the 4th line and Sullivan had no interest in keeping him around.

It was an interview with the Old Man. Pretty much Rutherford still loves Sprong but understands that he's not going to produce or develop that much on the fourth line, but there's nothing much that can be done about that since he's not lighting the world on fire and Kessel, Rust, and Hornqvist are all better than him.

Honestly it was an infuriating interview to read seeing how it was his own damn fault that Sprong can't be in the AHL right now. "Oh yeah, I know he'll be great one day, but he's not in the best position to develop right now, but you know, can't do anything about that." Yes you (frank)ing could have. You could have sent him back down to the C when it was obvious that Johnston was only gonna play him on the 4th line and Sullivan had no interest in keeping him around.
- Victoro311

This sounds a lot of what you’d hear before a player is moved.

It was an interview with the Old Man. Pretty much Rutherford still loves Sprong but understands that he's not going to produce or develop that much on the fourth line, but there's nothing much that can be done about that since he's not lighting the world on fire and Kessel, Rust, and Hornqvist are all better than him.

Honestly it was an infuriating interview to read seeing how it was his own damn fault that Sprong can't be in the AHL right now. "Oh yeah, I know he'll be great one day, but he's not in the best position to develop right now, but you know, can't do anything about that." Yes you (frank)ing could have. You could have sent him back down to the C when it was obvious that Johnston was only gonna play him on the 4th line and Sullivan had no interest in keeping him around.
- Victoro311

"Could of" and "Can't" are two different things. I know you know that though. Just saying. He cant do much about that now...but Sullivan can. Put him in the top 6 or at least top 9 for an extended look.

Also, it's inevitably going to happen, injuries will hit a forward or forwards, and he'll move up.

It was an interview with the Old Man. Pretty much Rutherford still loves Sprong but understands that he's not going to produce or develop that much on the fourth line, but there's nothing much that can be done about that since he's not lighting the world on fire and Kessel, Rust, and Hornqvist are all better than him.

Honestly it was an infuriating interview to read seeing how it was his own damn fault that Sprong can't be in the AHL right now. "Oh yeah, I know he'll be great one day, but he's not in the best position to develop right now, but you know, can't do anything about that." Yes you (frank)ing could have. You could have sent him back down to the C when it was obvious that Johnston was only gonna play him on the 4th line and Sullivan had no interest in keeping him around.
- Victoro311

It's funny because he has more points than both Rust and Horny in way less ice time. He hasn't played better than Rust but Horny hasn't been great. I think it comes down to that terrible shift last game where he was gassed and couldn't clear the puck to save his life.

This sounds a lot of what you’d hear before a player is moved.
- Rinosaur

Yep. Talk him up and trade him for something.

With Pettersson just expected back within this week, does it make sense to add someone of the Canucks to the fantasy squad? Horvat, Boeser, Elder...?
Pouliot?

With Pettersson just expected back within this week, does it make sense to add someone of the Canucks to the fantasy squad? Horvat, Boeser, Elder...?
Pouliot?
- VeryModernMan

Boeser for sure. Cheap and 4 games. Those elcs are money when you find the studs.

Yep. Talk him up and trade him for something.
- j.boyd919

I’d be calling NYI about Ho-Sang. Similar situation.

His speed may give him more slack with the Pens.

I’d be calling NYI about Ho-Sang. Similar situation.

His speed may give him more slack with the Pens.
- Rinosaur

I've liked Ho-Sang since his draft but I think Ho-Sang will be hated by Sullivan even more. Sprong and Ho-Sang have similar perceived deficiencies but Sprong has decided to be as professional as humanly possible about it in hopes that it will buy him some sort of slack (it hasn't). Ho-Sang has a track record of voicing frustration.

Ho-Sang needs to go to a team so devoid of talent that the coaches have no choice but to play him because he doesn't capitulate to the marching orders hockey culture expects of him. Pretty much any NHL coach will use any possible excuse to press box Ho-Sang even if he's a better option than some of the guys getting ice time.

You call a singular data point analytics...

There is no hope for you.
- Feds91Stammer

Is that the best you have?

So you call someone a (frank)tard but in fact that someone was completely right in the assessment of what a Hdsc is?

So now are you saying hdsc isn't part of analytics?

Is that the best you have?

So you call someone a (frank)tard but in fact that someone was completely right in the assessment of what a Hdsc is?

So now are you saying hdsc isn't part of analytics?
- Aussiepenguin

Do you have a template that you just cut and paste into these replies?